By Uzor Odigbo
Poster athlete of the Africa senior athletics championships Blessing Okagbare has profusely apologized to her fans for pulling out of the Asaba 2018 women’s 100m race.
The athlete who has been running under a pain barrier said her decision was based on her handlers advise who insisted that her body cannot carry more than one race.
“It was a tough decision for me, I personally desired to run especially in my home state but my handlers was uncomfortable with my decision and advised I should not run. The morning of the competition, I tried pushing myself but I was advised not to try it because of the injuries.” She said.
She however promised to show up in the 4x100m relay and perhaps try and satisfy her teeming fans by winning it.
It would be recalled that Okagbare also competed in the 4x100m relays at the just ended Commonwealth Game in Gold Coast Australia last April which she blamed on injuries.
Pundicts allegedly were not totally convinced in Okagbare’s injury excuses as they reasoned that the fear of failure to win on home soil in Asaba would do more harm to her competitive reputation.
Meanwhile, Nigeria may miss out of winning today’s 100m men and women’s final following a strong field of male and female sprinters from countries like Cote ‘d Ivoire, South Africa and Ghana.
Nigeria have its strength in the relays, 100mh women, long jump women, Shot put men and 200m men.
The stadium electronic score board maybe mounted today says the LOC chairman Solomon Ogba. He noted that the delay was necessitated by activities at the port  in Lagos where the facility was kept for several days. The score board if mounted, would help spectators follow track activities properly as it happen.